Climbing rose plant named ‘Radbrite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of climbing rose plant is provided which forms in abundance on a nearly continuous basis attractive single blossoms that are salmon-pink with a yellow eye. The vegetation is vigorous and the growth habit is upright and climbing. Attractive ornamental satiny green foliage is formed. Excellent disease resistance to blackspot is displayed. The hardiness of the new variety is excellent for a climber. The new variety is particularly well suited for growing as distinctive ornamentation in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Climbing Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. RADBRITE.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida climbing rose plant of the present invention was created at Greenfield, Wis., U.S.A. by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the ‘RADtee’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) of the new variety was the ‘AUScot’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,215). A ‘AUScot’ variety is marketed under the ABRAHAM DARBY trademark. The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: ‘RADtee’×‘AUScot’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of climbing rose plant of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) abundantly forms attractive single blossoms that are         salmon-pink with a yellow eye,     -   (b) exhibits an upright and climbing growth habit;     -   (c) forms vigorous vegetation,     -   (d) forms attractive ornamental green foliage with a satiny         finish,     -   (e) exhibits excellent resistance to blackspot, and     -   (f) exhibits excellent resistance to cold.

The new variety displays good repeat blooming, and the winter hardiness is believed to be one of the best observed for a climbing rose plant. The growth is very vigorous and the canes commonly are of medium to heavy caliper for the class.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. It can be grown to advantage as attractive climber in parks, gardens, public areas, and in residential settings. It alternatively can be trimmed and grown as a compact rose bush in the absence of support. The new variety is particularly well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape. The salmon-pink blossoms contrast nicely with the satiny green foliage.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. More specifically, the ‘RADtee’ variety is a shrub rose that forms non-fragrant blossoms having approximately 12 petals which are white with a pink edge, and the ‘AUScot’ variety forms very large very double blossoms that display a blend of pastel pink, yellow, white and orange coloration.

The new variety of the present invention also can be readily distinguished from other climbing rose plants, such as the ‘Radsunsar’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,611) and the ‘Wekroalt’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,518), following an inspection of the blossom coloration. More specifically, the ‘Radsunsar’ variety forms blossoms that are entirely yellow, and the blossoms of the ‘Wekroalt’ variety are velvety red striped with white.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found at Waso, Calif. U.S.A., to be homogeneous and stable and are strictly transmissible by asexual propagation such as budding, grafting, and the rooting of cuttings from one generation to another. The new variety reproduces true to type by such asexual propagation.

The new variety has been named ‘RADBRITE’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character, a typical flowering plant of the new variety while growing with support. The illustrated rose plant of the new variety was approximately three years of age and was observed during the summer while growing outdoors on its own roots at Greenfield, Wis. U.S.A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart), London, England. The description is based on the observation of three year-old specimens of the new variety during June while growing outdoors on their own roots near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Class: Climbing Rose. -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—Approximately 4 to 5 feet on average at the end of             one growing season. The mature height is approximately 8             feet.         -   Width.—Approximately 3 to 4 feet on average at the end of             one growing season. The mature width is approximately the             same.         -   Habit.—Upright and climbing. -   Branches:     -   -   Color.—Young stems: commonly between Green Group 139B and             Yellow-Green Group 144A, and sometimes lightly blushed with             between Greyed-Purple Group 183B and Greyed-Purple Group             187B when exposed to the sun. Adult wood: near Yellow-Green             Group 148A.         -   Texture.—Young stems: smooth. Adult wood: smooth.         -   Thorns.—Size: on young stems several large almost straight             prickles that are approximately 0.9 to 1.3 cm in length             having a somewhat narrow moderately long base that is             approximately 8 mm in length and approximately 5 mm in width             commonly are present together with a few small prickles, and             on mature wood similar large prickles commonly are present             together with a few small prickles. Color: on young stems             commonly between Greyed-Yellow Group 161A and Greyed-Orange             Group 164B and often lightly suffused with Greyed-Red Group             181A and Greyed Purple Group 184B, and an adult wood             commonly between Greyed-Orange Group 164A and Greyed-Orange             Group 165A. -   Leaves:     -   -   Stipules.—Approximately 20 to 25 mm in length, approximately             8 mm in width at the widest area, Green Group 138A in             coloration, and possess moderately narrow medium to long             points that commonly turn out at an angle of more than 45             degrees.         -   Petioles.—Approximately 37 mm in length on average,             approximately 2 mm in diameter on average, slightly bristly             in texture, and Green Group 138A in coloration.         -   Rachis.—Average in caliper, the upper side is moderately             grooved with some stipitate glands and hairs at the edges of             the groove, and the under side is somewhat rough with a few             stipitate glands and numerous small prickles.         -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5, and 7. Shape: oval to somewhat             ovate, rounded base, acute to somewhat acuminate tip.             Margins: serrulate. Texture: semi-glossy and moderately             rugose. Leaflet size: commonly approximately 4 to 5 cm in             length on average and approximately 3 to 4 cm in width on             average at the widest point. Leaf size: commonly             approximately 9.5 to 14.5 cm in length on average and             approximately 10.5 cm in width on average at the widest             point. Overall appearance: very abundant, and medium green             in coloration, with a semi-glossy finish. Color (young             foliage): upper surface: commonly between Green Group 139A             and Yellow-Green Group 147A and sometimes lightly suffused             with near Greyed-Purple Group 183B and Greyed-Purple Group             187C. Under surface: Commonly between Green Group 139C and             Yellow-Green Group 147B and moderately suffused with near             Greyed-Purple 183B and Greyed-Purple Group 187C. Color             (adult foliage): upper surface: commonly between Green Group             139A and Yellow-Green Group 147A. Under surface: commonly             between Yellow-Green Group 147B and 147C. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly approximately 4 to 5 blooms on             average in a cluster. Commonly the clusters are irregularly             rounded and are borne on medium to long stems having a             length of approximately 20 to 30 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Commonly between Yellow-Green Group 144B and 144C             and sometimes moderately suffused with near Greyed-Purple             Group 183B and 183C, very strong, usually erect, smooth,             with stipitate glands and hairs, and approximately 3 mm in             diameter.         -   Sepals.—Approximately 25 mm in length, approximately 10 mm             in width, commonly without extensions, the inner surface is             lined with very fine wooly tomentum, the margins are lined             with a few stipitate glands and hairs, the apex is acute,             and Yellow-Green Group 144A fading to Yellow-Green Group             144C in coloration. Number: five.         -   Buds.—Shape: very pointed to urn-shaped as the calyx breaks.             Length: approximately 2 to 3 cm on average as the calyx             breaks. Width: approximately 2 to 2.5 cm at the widest point             as the calyx breaks. Size: small to medium. Texture: bears             numerous stipitate glands together with some hairs. Color:             commonly between Yellow-Green Group 144A and 144B and             moderately suffused with near Greyed-Purple Group 183B and             183C.         -   Flower.—Form: single to semi-double. Shape: when partially             opened very high-centered with the petals being somewhat             loosely spiraled and the petal edges somewhat slightly             reflexed outward, and when fully opened somewhat flat and             the petal edges are flat to undulated and very slightly             reflexed outward. Diameter: approximately 10 to 11 cm. on             average when fully open. Color (when opening begins): upper             surface: at the apex near Red-Purple Group 58A and             Red-Purple Group 59D, Yellow Group 3A and 3B near the base,             and at the point of attachment Yellow-Group 7A. The yellow             coloration towards the base of each petal creates a yellow             eye at the center of each bloom when fully open. Under             surface: at the apex near Red-Purple Group 58A and             Red-Purple Group 59D, and thereafter Yellow Group 3A and 3B.             Color (when blooming): upper surface: at the apex primarily             Red Group 55B, and at the area of attachment a moderately             large zone of Yellow Group 2A. Under surface: at the apex a             blend of Red Group 52D and Red Group 55D, and at the area of             attachment a moderately large zone of the Yellow Group 2C             and Yellow Group 4D. Color (at end of blooming): upper             surface: at the apex primarily Red Group 55A, and at the             area of attachment a moderately large zone of Yellow Group             4D. Under surface: at the apex a blend of Red Group 55C and             55D, and at the area of attachment a moderately large zone             of Yellow Group 11D. Fragrance: strong citrus-rose. Petal             form: nearly round to very broadly obovate commonly with             rounded apices, and sometimes notched with one or two             notches. Petal size: commonly approximately 50 to 55 mm in             length and width. Petal number: approximately 8 to 12 on             average. Petaloids: commonly 1 to 2 arranged irregularly,             approximately 34 mm in length, approximately 11 mm in width,             and Yellow Group 7A in coloration. Texture: the petals are             medium to thick in substance, the upper surfaces are             moderately velvety to slightly satiny, and the under             surfaces are mostly satiny to somewhat shiny. Lasting             quality: blossoms commonly last approximately 4 to 5 days on             the plant, and approximately 4 to 5 days when cut and placed             in a vase depending upon environmental conditions. Petal             drop: very good, the petals drop cleanly and freely Stamen             number: approximately 165 to 170 on average and regularly             arranged about the pistils. Anthers: commonly between Yellow             Group 13C and Yellow-Orange Group 16A when immature, between             Greyed-Orange Group 163A and Greyed-Orange Group 165A when             mature, and approximately 1 mm in size. Filaments:             approximately 7 to 12 mm in length on average, most bear             anthers, and Yellow Group 13C and sometimes moderately             suffused with Red Group 43C in coloration. Pollen: moderate             to abundant in quantity and near Yellow Group 13B in             coloration. Pistils: separate and free, and commonly number,             approximately 50 on average. Stigmas: between Yellow Group             8D and Yellow Group 9D in coloration. Styles: moderately             uneven in length, approximately 4.5 mm in length on average,             approximately 0.25 mm in diameter, and near Yellow Group 8D             and suffused with Red Group 46D in coloration. Receptacle:             substantially round in configuration; commonly approximately             7 mm in diameter on average, commonly bears a somewhat             bristly surface texture, and the coloration is Yellow-Green             Group 144B. Ovaries: commonly enclosed in the calyx. Hips:             ovoid to globular in shape, commonly approximately 18 mm in             length on average and approximately 15 mm in width on             average, possess a smooth surface with thick fleshy walls,             the sepals commonly persist, and between Orange Group 28A             and Orange-Red Group 33A in coloration. Seeds: commonly             approximately 7 to 11 medium-sized seeds are formed per hip. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous.         -   Blossoming.—Very abundant and nearly continuous during the             growing season.         -   Resistance to diseases.—Excellent with respect to blackspot             and powdery mildew when compared to other commercial             varieties under comparable growing conditions new West             Grove, Pa., U.S.A.         -   Propensity to form hips.—Good. 

1. A new and distinct climbing rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) abundantly forms attractive single blossoms that are salmon-pink with a yellow eye, (b) exhibits an upright and climbing growth habit, (c) forms vigorous vegetation, (d) forms attractive ornamental green foliage with a satiny finish, (e) exhibits excellent resistance to blackspot, and (f) exhibits excellent resistance to cold; substantially as herein shown and described. 